Coal Powers America

MATTERS Coal Powers America (NAPSA)—The nation’s abundant coal supplies provide the fuel for over half of the country’s electricity generation, according to the Edison Electric Institute. Because of coal, America enjoys someof the most reliable and affordable electricity in the world. Coal plants reducing their emis- sions are one reason the air nationwide is healthier today. Importantly, even though the country is using three times as much coal today as it did in 1970, emissions from coal plants are down. Since 1980, for example, coal plants have cut sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions by 40 percent. As a side benefit of reducing these emissions, coal plants have lowered mercury emissions by 40 percent as well. New regulations by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and further efforts by electric utilities will lead to much greater emission reductions. Fewerutility emissions are one reason why overall air emissions in the country have been cut in half since the Clean Air Act was adopted in 1970. To learn more about electric utilities and the nation’s improving air quality, visit www.eei.org/air-quality.